IPL7 : Does Bailey deserve a place in the 11 ?

Kings XI Punjab have till now had a dream run in this year’s IPL . In the UAE leg of the IPL , they did not lose a single match. Maxwell and Miller were going all guns blazing and Sandeep Sharma was providing the initial break throughs. Everything seemed to be working for them . They have booked a place in the next round , and that too in the top2, which means that they will have an extra shot on the final, if needed.

The team after having marched to the second round seems to have lost the same lusture. They are good even now, but for some reason or the other, doesn’t look that dangerous.

Miller was dropped and then came the turn of Maxwell, not sure what it was . Bu the guy who must be dropped is Bailey. He might be a good leader and has proved it again and again. But, if he doesn’t deserve to be in the 11, he should not be there.

Earlier, he was the reason why Perera could not make into the 11. Perera is a proven one in this format and was a fulcrum in the success of SRH last year. He was an asset in the bowling department as well and can finish the match as well as anyone.

The matter became worse when Kings XI dropped Miller and then followed it up by dropping Maxwell. Not to forget the fact that Maxwell and Miller has been the face of Punjab this year. Shaun Marsh was perhaps the leading batsman for Punjab , leading to the tournament but did not get a game till the last one. He got a game and did look good . But , getting him ahead of Maxwell or Miller just speaks of their problem.

Bailey has done nothing very significant in this tournament. Though , he has finished some games well, but he stands no where when compared to Maxwell and Miller. He has scored 228 runs in 13 games . This stands no where when compared to 533 of Maxwell and 352 of Miller , and the fact that it has come in 1 match less than Bailey makes the exclusion of Bailey better choice than the other 2.

Bailey, though averages more than the others but it has a Bevan factor associated with it. He also lacks behind in the strike rate with just 138 per 100, and it is very less considering his role as a finisher.

Overall, it must be admitted that he has led the team very well but the first choice captain must be someone who is a surety in the 11 always. It’s sensible if they don’t make any changes at this point but they must look forward for the next year and must come up with something different.

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